Neighborhood context and the development of aggression in boys and girls

Abstract

We examine the roles of neighborhood characteristics in the development of the aggressive behavior of 1,409 urban boys and girls between the first and seventh grades. The multilevel, longitudinal growth analyses find strong neighborhood effects in all models, while controlling for individual-level variables. Results indicated that the effects of neighborhood violence, employment, income, and percentages of single males and female-headed households do not manifest in first grade, but affect the trajectory of child aggression between first and seventh grades. The influence of family income and frequent physical discipline on boys' and girls' aggression occurs at first grade, and family income has a modest effect on the trajectory. The findings strongly suggest that the neighborhood sources of the development of child aggression are independent and different from early childhood experiences.

Developmental Relations Between Alcohol and Aggressive Behavior Among Adolescents: Neighborhood and Sociodemographic Correlates

“…The income finding is consistent with literature that suggests that neighborhood poverty is associated with delinquency in general, and aggressiveness in particular (Leventhal and Brooks-Gunn 2000). Recent research suggests that factors such as neighborhood income become important for predicting aggressive behavior as children enter middle school (Vanfossen, Brown, Kellam, Sokoloff, and Doering 2010). …”

Associations of Neighborhood and Family Factors with Trajectories of Physical and Social Aggression During Adolescence

“…Further, stressors and frustrations associated with living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas may prompt youth to act out in both physically and socially aggressive ways. In fact, neighborhood disadvantage has been found to predict trajectories of adolescent aggression, with higher initial levels (Karriker-Jaffe et al 2009), greater increases over time (Vanfossen et al 2010), and greater persistence of aggression into young adulthood (Howell and Hawkins 1998) in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Other than the study by Vanfossen and colleagues (2010), which used a composite measure of both physically and socially aggressive behaviors, we are unaware of other work that has examined neighborhood effects on social aggression.…”

“…Lack of social cohesion and informal control can lead to socially disordered neighborhoods that allow more unchecked aggression by adolescents living in them. Studies show increases in youth aggression over time (Vanfossen et al 2010), as well as persistence of aggression into young adulthood among youth in disorganized neighborhoods (Chung et al 2002). However, some research suggests limited effects of connection to neighbors on problem behaviors (including violence, delinquency and substance use) for rural African-American youth (Vazsonyi et al 2008).…”

Predicting violence among individuals who engage in self-injury

“…In sum, previous research supports an association of NSSI with violent behaviour toward others and suggests the presence of a subgroup of individuals who engage in NSSI that also engage in violence (Hillbrand, 2001;Maden et al, 2000;Daffern & Howells, 2009 (Chermack et al, 2000;Cunradi et al, 2002;Vanfossen et al, 2010) and academic achievement (Hoptman et al, 1999;Farrington, 1989;Swahn & Donovan, 2004), as well as relationship (Saunders, 1992;Webster et al, 1997) and employment (Gatti et al, 2007;Zagar et al, 2009;O'Leary et al, 2008) difficulties have been associated with violent behaviour. In terms of individual factors, previous work has found that ASPD features are associated with violent or aggressive behaviour toward others (Meloy, 1995), and some authors have suggested an association between antisocial personality features and NSSI behaviours (Virkkunen, 1976).…”

“…another study examining aggression among elementary school boys and girls found that family income was associated with aggression in the first grade and that the neighbourhood factors, including the economic status of the neighbourhood, were associated with the pattern of aggressive behaviours over time for both males and females (Vanfossen, Brown, Kellam, Sokoloff, & Doering, 2010).…”